Food and Drink

Google
 

Easy Menu Planning from The Rush Hour Cook




Recipes For Your Baby Shower
Sunflower Cheese Balls
Ingredients:
3 oz. package of Philadelphia cream cheese
' cup of shredded cheese (Monterey Jack, American or Brick cheese)
1 cup of sunflower seeds
2 tbs. toasted wheat g .....
It has been said that changing ones mind is a womans prerogative. However, I dont think the author of that statement anticipated how often women would change their mind on what to fix for dinner during the course of a day. My routine goes like this get up at some early hour in order to get everyone else up at a normal hour, then think about breakfast. Schlep cereal on the table and run to work. Half way through the day, it occurs to me I will need to feed something to my family. At this point, usually whatever my coworker ate for lunch seems a good candidate . By 3 oclock, Im usually starving from not having time to eat yet, so my dinner choices turn to richer foodslike a stack of flapjacks or a juicy bacon cheeseburger. When I leave work, I go by the store and think about stoppingbut alas I am too exhausted. I justify that I can just throw something together from the pantry. (I ignore the fact that my last five attempts to throw something together have ended up in the garbage, untouched.) I get home only to scour through the pantry and learn that I can make spaghetti and meatballsif only I had spaghetti; macaroni and cheeseif only I had cheese, chicken with lemon and rosemaryif only I had the chicken. Whats a girl to do? And of course, you know how this story ends, the famed call to the takeout joint up the street.

One of the best techniques Ive found to simplify supper is to simply assign each night a theme. Now, some of you may be organized enough that this isnt necessary, but for those of us who have found all-too-much comfort in the cardboard of a takeout box, this is a winning strategy.

Simply take a weekly calendar and next to each day of the week, write down a theme for the evening. Below youll find examples from my own cooking closet.

For example:

Finger Foods

This could be appetizer trays of fruit, vegetables, cheese and crackers, mini-sandwiches, hot dogs on sticksanything that can be tackled by hand literally!

Breakfast for Dinner

Christmas Wine Gift Basket
The Perfect Christmas Wine Gift Basket: Companies That you can go to

Christmas is truly the season of giving, and it is everyone' s favorite .....
If your family is at all like mine, a leisurely breakfast of omelets, pancakes, sausage and accompaniments only occurs when you are traveling and hit the Sunday brunch buffet. Try doing a breakfast for dinner. Eggs and pancakes are quick and easy to prepare and by doing them in the evening everyone can enjoy them before racing off to their appointed destinations.

Pasta Presto

You pick the type and the night for Pasta Presto. Perhaps its spaghetti, fettuccini, macaroni, lasagnajust pick a sauce and pasta and check a weeknight off your list.

Meat and Potatoes

Healthy Seafood Recipe
I try to have a bit of laugh along the way so, humour me try to laugh at my jokes I think they're funny  and most of all have a great time, and lets .....
Unless you are a vegetarian, its best to designate at least one night for the good 'ol American standby. Try the One Dish Meat and Potatoes on page 49.

Some Assembly Required

Whether its pizza, tacos or baked potatoes, this night features a main course that each family member can customize to their liking.

Kids Cook

One Bird The President Didnt Pardon
Talking turkey

The talk around town in November was mostly politics, but after the election, people started talking turkey.

The thought of using a self basting or kosher turkey did not appeal to me, Ive never .....
(or spouse cooks, or mailman cooks)You get the picturesomeone other than Mom gets to man the kitchen (and the dishes) for this night.

Soup & Sandwich

There is a reason almost every restaurant offers a soup and sandwich specialits a hearty, healthy and wholesome combo!

Make It and Bake It

When in a rush there is nothing like the beloved casserole. Choose your favorite, throw it together, and toss it in the oven for a 30-minute-bake. Dont forget to double your recipe and reserve one for freezing.

Lasso Your Leftovers

I dedicate this theme to my mother. For years, my mother insists on saving foodnever wasting a biteful. While I find this quality admirable, I find it interesting how much food is wrapped carefully in plastic so tightly it could be donated to NASA, only to sit in my refrigerator for longer than George Burns was alive. This night is dedicated for anyone else who hoards their leftoversnow is the time to bring em out and bring em onpotluck style.

Deal With It Dinner

I must confess, this is one of my favorite themes. It basically involves letting someone else deal with the cooking or letting the family forge for their own findings in the fridge.

The articles and content provided on this website have been contributed by guest authors, and may not reflect the views, opinions, thoughts or beliefs of http://www.vicariously.net/food/ or its staff. We are not responsible for copyright infringements by columnists, writers and authors. We do not necessarily endorse or promote the services, advice or products by, from and mentioned by any authors, writers or columnists. http://www.vicariously.net/food/ will not be liable for any loss or damage suffered by a user through the user's reliance on information and advice gained through the articles, interviews, stories, columns, and any and all writings viewed on this website.